Senior Consultant to support the development of the social work council in Rwanda (Nationals only, remote)

Consultant

Overview

Lead the development of a law for social work practice in Rwanda.

You have:

• Master's degree in law, social work, social sciences, or related fields.
• Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in social work, Law, social policy, governance, or institutional development.
• Proven experience in designing or supporting professional councils, regulatory bodies, or professional associations (an added advantage).
• Experience in policy development, legal and institutional framework design, or related reforms.
• Demonstrated experience working with government institutions, UN agencies, or international NGOs.
• Strong understanding of social work systems, Law, child protection systems, and social welfare governance.
• Knowledge of professional regulation frameworks, licensing systems, or professional councils.
• Expertise in institutional capacity development and organizational design.
• Strong skills in research, policy analysis, and report writing.
• Proven ability in strategic planning and development of implementation roadmaps.
• Excellent facilitation and communication skills, including the ability to engage diverse stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality outputs under tight deadlines.
• Advanced degree (master's or higher) in Social Work, Law, Social Sciences, Public Policy, or related field.
• Experience supporting the establishment of professional councils or statutory bodies in Africa or similar contexts.
• Familiarity with Rwanda's social protection and child protection systems is a strong advantage.
• Experience working with MIGEPROF, MINALOC, NCDA, UNICEF, or similar institutions.
• Knowledge of governance reforms and professionalization processes.
• Experience in donor-funded projects and results-based management frameworks.

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Contract Duration – 8 months

Working arrangement: Remote

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Social work is a critical profession in Rwanda, providing essential services to vulnerable populations, including children, families, older persons, persons with disabilities, and individuals facing social, economic, and psychological challenges. However, despite its importance, the social service workforce in Rwanda faces systemic gaps that affect the quality, coordination, and professionalization of services.

The Rwanda National Organization of Social Workers (RWANOSW), with the support of UNICEF Rwanda, has been instrumental in advancing the professionalization agenda of social work. In parallel, UNICEF Rwanda continues to support the NCDA in strengthening child protection systems through a dedicated workforce operating at decentralized levels.

Against this background, UNICEF Rwanda seeks to engage a qualified consultant to lead a participatory and inclusive process for the development of a law governing social work practice and the establishment of a Social Work Council. The consultant will be responsible for designing the legal, institutional, and operational frameworks necessary to ensure a functional, accountable, and sustainable system that advances:

• A clear and enforceable normative framework for social service workforce functions;

• A mature and institutionalized supervision and support system; A robust licensing and accreditation system for social work practice in Rwanda.

The assignment aims to deliver an operational, Government-endorsed legal and institutional framework for the establishment of a Social Work Council, enabling improved quality, consistency, and accountability of the social service workforce. This will directly contribute to strengthened child protection system performance, including more effective prevention of violence, improved case management and follow-up, and better recovery and reintegration outcomes for children across Rwanda.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: Social Work Consultancy.pdf

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Master’s degree in law, social work, Social Sciences, or related fields.
• Work Experience:
  • Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in social work, Law, social policy, governance, or institutional development.
  • Proven experience in designing or supporting professional councils, regulatory bodies, or professional associations (an added advantage).
  • Experience in policy development, legal and institutional framework design, or related reforms.
  • Demonstrated experience working with government institutions, UN agencies, or international NGOs.
  • Strong track record in stakeholder engagement and facilitation n of high-level consultative processes.
• Language Requirements: English
• Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:
  • Strong understanding of social work systems, Law, child protection systems, and social welfare governance.
  • Knowledge of professional regulation frameworks, licensing systems, or professional councils.
  • Expertise in institutional capacity development and organizational design.
  • Strong skills in research, policy analysis, and report writing.
  • Proven ability in strategic planning and development of implementation roadmaps.
  • Excellent facilitation and communication skills, including the ability to engage diverse stakeholders.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality outputs under tight deadlines.
• Desirables:
  • Advanced degree (master’s or higher) in Social Work, Law, Social Sciences, Public Policy, or related field.
  • Experience supporting the establishment of professional councils or statutory bodies in Africa or similar contexts.
  • Familiarity with Rwanda’s social protection and child protection systems is a strong advantage.
  • Experience working with MIGEPROF, MINALOC, NCDA, UNICEF, or similar institutions.
  • Knowledge of governance reforms and professionalization processes.
  • Experience in donor-funded projects and results-based management frameworks.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal Financial proposal Social Work Consultancy.docx

Remarks:

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

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Potential interview questions

Added 2 months ago - Updated 2 months ago - Source: unicef.org